Pencil-case



(No Model.)

T. B. DE FOREST.

PENCIL CASE.

180.393.965. Patented Dec, 4, 1888.

Wizmesses A ZWZ/waw JMWM/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BURLOCK DE FOREST, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONNECTICUT.

PENCILYCASE- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,965, dated December 4, 1888. Application filed March 9, 1888. Serial No. 266,700. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BURLOCK DE FOREST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil- Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in pencil-cases, and has for its object to provide a device of this description which shall be adapted to contain an ordinary wooden lead-pencil so that the same may be moved freely out and in, the former for use in writing, the latter for the protection of the point when the pencil is carried in the pocket.

My improvement furthermore admits of the ready withdrawal of the pencil and the insertion of a new one, and provides an equally ample grasping-surface for the hand, whether the pencil within the case be short or long.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter to be fully set forth, and then recited in the claim.

Reference is to be had, in connection with the description, to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, an d in which Figure 1 isaperspective, Fig. 2 an enlarged I cross-section at line 00 a: of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 a central longitudinal section.

Like reference-numbers denote the same parts in all the figures.

1 is ahollow metallic case or cylinder of sufficient diameter and length to readily admit and contain an ordinary lead-pencil. Said case is slotted for the greater part of its length, as seen at 2.

3 is the pencil.

4 is a spiral spring whose coils bear against the inner wall of the case and are held in contact therewith by their sprin action.

5 is an arm formed from the end of the wire of the spiral spring aforesaid, and (3 is atooth or point on the end of .the arm. Said arm projects upward and outward through the slot, and the point is adapted to be forced down into the wood of the pencil.

The bearing of the spring against the case issufficient to retain the pencil in any given position, while at the same time its hold is not sutficient to prevent the spring and pencil from being moved as desired by means of the arm, which may be provided with a small knob, 7, as a handle.

The spring is entirely within the case, and the arm projects very slightly above the slot. Thus there is no projection or point which may catch upon the clothing or impede the free handling of the instrument.

I claim The combination, with the pencil and the slotted case, of the spiral spring arranged within said case at the rear of the pencil, the arm projecting From said spring outward through said slot, and the tooth on the end of the arm adapted to engage the pencil, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

S. H. HUBBARD, D. JosEPH FOLEY. 

